Series Recap: Yankees squander series to Red Sox

Frustrating, inspiring, disappointing, resilient and back to frustrating. Those were essentially the swings the New York Yankees took their fans through after dropping two-of-three in their series against the Boston Red Sox.

GAME 1

If the Yankees win the AL East or reach the postseason by a game, their 5-4 victory may prove to be a signature game this season.

EIGHTH IS ENOUGH

Trailing 3-0 in the eighth after starter Jaime Garcia yielded home runs to Hanley Ramirez and Andrew Benintendi, the Bronx Bombers busted out of the doldrums and found their mojo.

Facing reliever Addison Reed, pinch hitter Brett Gardner reached after an instant replay showed he was hit by a pitch on the foot. The ensuing batter Aaron Hicks proceeded to make great use of the porch in right, popping a two-run homer to pull the Bronx Bombers within one.

After Gary Sanchez walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Aaron Judge walked and Red Sox manager John Farrell called on Joe Kelly.

Didi Gregorius kept the line moving with a clutch game-tying RBI-single to left-center. Todd Frazier followed by dunking an RBI-single to left.

A crucial sacrifice fly RBI to left by Ronald Torreyes would cap off the New York scoring.

HEADS UP HICKS

After helping spur the club with his bat, Hicks made a heads up play in left with Aroldis Chapman scuffling in the ninth. With the bases loaded and zero outs, a sacrifice fly RBI to left by Benintendi helped Boston inch closer but proved costly. On the play, Eduardo Nunez attempted to advance to third by was erased by an alert Hicks on a bang-bang double play.

THE UNRAVELING

On the topic of Yankees starters of late, when it rains it pours. Michael Pineda is done for the year. CC Sabathia is on the disabled list. Masahiro Tanaka went on the disabled list prior to the game. Plus, Jordan Montgomery was drilled in the head while signing autographs during batting practice in right field before the game. Hence, it was an inopportune time for Luis Severino to post his worst outing of his brilliant season.

During the third, Severino became a bit bat shy with two consecutive one-out walks. A botched sure fire double play ball off the bat of Nunez by Frazier at third didn’t help matters either. With the bases packed, Mookie Betts ripped a two-run single to left. Benintendi would follow with a three-run jolt to right.

In the fifth Benintendi continued to look way too comfortable at the dish and cranked yet another three-run blast to right, off of Severino.

GAME 3

Outlasting Chris Sale and leading at home, it was a bad 3-2 extra innings loss at home for the Yankees.

TRADING RUNS

After Jordan Montgomery allowed an RBI-single to Jackie Bradley Jr. in the top half of the fifth, New York battled back during the home half.

Facing Sale with Headley on first and two down, Mookie Betts played an Austin Romine ball hit to right into an RBI-triple which squared the game at one.

LEAD BUT LEFT WANTING MORE

Facing Barnes in the eighth the Yankees were able to manufacture a run. With one down and the bases loaded, Frazier lifted a sacrifice fly RBI to center, giving the Yankees a 2-1 advantage. This felt like an opportunity to deliver a knockout blow but the team had to settle for a one-run edge with their multi million dollar closer ready to enter.

CHAPMAN CRUMBLES

Entering the ninth Chapman appeared to be throwing with confidence in his strikeout of Ramirez. Yet, rather than throwing his slider to a lefty batting rookie in Rafael Devers, Chapman left a fastball up and Devers deposited the game-tying homer to left-center.